The relationship between self-harm and alexithymia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Hilary Norman1, Andrea Oskis1, Lisa Marzano1
1Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, London, UK.
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|July 25, 2020
Summary
Alexithymia, difficulty processing emotions, is significantly linked to self-harm. This review found that difficulty identifying and describing feelings strongly correlates with self-injury behaviors across multiple studies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Self-harm, defined as self-injury without suicidal intent, is a growing public health issue.
- Alexithymia, characterized by difficulties in emotion processing, is previously correlated with self-harm.
- Understanding this link is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between alexithymia and self-harm.
- To examine the specific components of alexithymia in relation to self-harm.
- To investigate potential moderating factors such as age and sex.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across multiple databases.
- Meta-analysis of 23 studies using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS20).
- Analysis of alexithymia subcomponents (difficulty identifying/describing feelings, externally oriented thinking).
Main Results:
- A significant positive relationship was found between alexithymia and self-harm (g=0.57).
- Difficulty identifying and describing feelings were significantly associated with self-harm, but externally oriented thinking was not.
- The association was stronger in adolescent and female samples.
Conclusions:
- The findings support an affect regulation model of self-harm.
- Self-harm may serve as a coping mechanism for poorly understood emotional experiences.
- Targeting emotion processing deficits could be key in preventing and treating self-harm.
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